Manage your subscription

Nitrophobia

From
David Powlson and Keith Goulding, Institute of Arable Crops Research

It is disappointing that crying “stomach cancer” is still regarded as the way
to draw readers’ attention to the issue of nitrate in the environment(Forum, 23 January, p 47).

Medical researchers no longer take seriously the suggested link between
nitrate and stomach cancer. Research in this field has moved on considerably,
and there is even evidence that some intake of nitrates is beneficial to humans
and animals, giving some protection against gastroenteritis.

It is also simplistic to state that fertilisers are one of the prime sources
of nitrate. Agricultural research has also moved on. The majority of the …